When National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas was looking over a group of yearlings that his friends and clients Bob and Beverly Lewis were considering sending to the sales, a bay filly caught his eye: “She had the walk,” he later said. Lukas advised the Lewises to retain the filly, later named Folklore, and a year later won an Eclipse Award with her, the first with a homebred for the Lewises. Folklore was forced into early retirement by a knee injury and has had a disappointing broodmare career but has received some redemption in the latter role as the second dam of three-time Japanese champion Contrail, a winner of that country’s Triple Crown.
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$945,500
2005:
2006:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (2005)
Assessments
Highweighted at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for 2-year-old fillies, 1 pound above second-rated Adieu.
As an individual
A bay filly, Folklore had “the walk” according to D. Wayne Lukas, who has elsewhere been quoted as saying that the kind of filly he looks for has "the walk of a hooker." She typically came from off the pace but successfully pursued a pace-stalking strategy in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She was retired after suffering a stress fracture to one knee early in her 3-year-old season.
As a producer
As of August 17, 2024, Folklore has produced ten named foals of racing age, of which nine have started and five have won. Her most important foal thus far has been Rhodochrosite (2010, by Unbridled’s Song), dam of three-time Japanese champion Contrail (by Deep Impact).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Folklore raced as a homebred for Bob and Beverly Lewis. She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden to her Breeders’ Cup triumph by Edgar Prado.
Pedigree notes
Folklore is inbred 4x4 to In Reality and 5x5x4 to Northern Dancer. She is a half sister to listed stakes winner Divided Attention (by A.P. Indy) and to Grade 3-placed Delightful Quality (by Elusive Quality), dam of two-time American champion Essential Quality. Folklore is also a half sister to Amusing Plan (by Pleasantly Perfect), dam of Korean listed stakes winner Tiz Plan (by Tiznow).
Folklore and her siblings are out of unraced Contrive, whose full sister Queen’s Lady is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Biddy Duke. Contrive is also a half sister to Kew Garden (by Seattle Slew), dam of listed stakes winner Queens Plaza (by Forestry) and second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Lord Alex, and to Never a No Hitter (by Kris S.), dam of 2009 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2) winner Tizahit (by Tiznow). In addition, Contrive is a half sister to Stormy Antics (by Stormy Atlantic), dam of stakes winner Student Body (by Colonel John).
Contrive, in turn, is out of 1993 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (USA-G3) winner Jeano (by Fappiano), whose dam Basie (by In Reality) won the 1985 Delaware Handicap (USA-G1). Basie was the best of four stakes winners produced from Stolen Base, a Herbager granddaughter of Ogden Phipps’s foundation mare Striking.
Books and media
Video footage of Folklore’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN2JOGAFjP4.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2012. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 17, 2024
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$945,500
2005:
- Won Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Churchill Down)
- Won Matron Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont)
- Won Adirondack Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Spinaway Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Astoria Stakes (USA-L, 5.5FD, Belmont)
2006:
- 3rd Santa Ynez Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (2005)
Assessments
Highweighted at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for 2-year-old fillies, 1 pound above second-rated Adieu.
As an individual
A bay filly, Folklore had “the walk” according to D. Wayne Lukas, who has elsewhere been quoted as saying that the kind of filly he looks for has "the walk of a hooker." She typically came from off the pace but successfully pursued a pace-stalking strategy in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She was retired after suffering a stress fracture to one knee early in her 3-year-old season.
As a producer
As of August 17, 2024, Folklore has produced ten named foals of racing age, of which nine have started and five have won. Her most important foal thus far has been Rhodochrosite (2010, by Unbridled’s Song), dam of three-time Japanese champion Contrail (by Deep Impact).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Folklore raced as a homebred for Bob and Beverly Lewis. She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden to her Breeders’ Cup triumph by Edgar Prado.
Pedigree notes
Folklore is inbred 4x4 to In Reality and 5x5x4 to Northern Dancer. She is a half sister to listed stakes winner Divided Attention (by A.P. Indy) and to Grade 3-placed Delightful Quality (by Elusive Quality), dam of two-time American champion Essential Quality. Folklore is also a half sister to Amusing Plan (by Pleasantly Perfect), dam of Korean listed stakes winner Tiz Plan (by Tiznow).
Folklore and her siblings are out of unraced Contrive, whose full sister Queen’s Lady is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Biddy Duke. Contrive is also a half sister to Kew Garden (by Seattle Slew), dam of listed stakes winner Queens Plaza (by Forestry) and second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Lord Alex, and to Never a No Hitter (by Kris S.), dam of 2009 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2) winner Tizahit (by Tiznow). In addition, Contrive is a half sister to Stormy Antics (by Stormy Atlantic), dam of stakes winner Student Body (by Colonel John).
Contrive, in turn, is out of 1993 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (USA-G3) winner Jeano (by Fappiano), whose dam Basie (by In Reality) won the 1985 Delaware Handicap (USA-G1). Basie was the best of four stakes winners produced from Stolen Base, a Herbager granddaughter of Ogden Phipps’s foundation mare Striking.
Books and media
Video footage of Folklore’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN2JOGAFjP4.
Fun facts
- On June 3, 2005, Folklore became the first winner for her sire Tiznow when she took a maiden special weight at Belmont in her second start.
- Folklore’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies was the first Breeders’ Cup win for jockey Edgar Prado, who had failed with 41 previous Breeders’ Cup mounts.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2012. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 17, 2024